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GCSE History - The Cold War 1945-1975 > Vietnam Background > Flashcards

Flashcards in Vietnam Background Deck (30)
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1
Q

What political group ruled the south of Vietnam?

A

Capitalist South

2
Q

Who was leader of the communist North?

A

Ho Chi Minh

3
Q

Who was leader of the capitalist South?

A

Ngo Dinh Diem

4
Q

Who supported the North?

A

Russia

5
Q

Who supported the south?

A

USA

6
Q

Who was Ho Chi Minh popular with?

A

The lower class people

7
Q

What type of leader was Diem?

A

A corrupt dictator

8
Q

Why did USA support the south even though they were corrupt?

A

To contain communism and stop it from spreading. By helping Diem, Vietnam wouldn’t turn to communism so the dominoes wouldn’t fall

9
Q

What religion was Diem?

A

Catholic

10
Q

What did Diem do to Buddhists?

A

Persecuted them

11
Q

Why did many monks commit suicide?

A

In protest against Diem

12
Q

Why didn’t USA want to be known for supporting Diem?

A

Diem had a very bad reputation for being corrupt

13
Q

What was the domino theory?

A

If one country fell into communism, it would have a knock on effect and other countries will fall under communism and it will grow stronger

14
Q

When was the domino theory introduced?

A

The 1950’s

15
Q

What were the countries that USA feared would fall into the domino theory and join communism?

A

Vietnam –> Laos –> Cambodia –> Thailand –> Burma –> India –> Bangladesh

16
Q

When did USA help Diem set up his government?

A

1954

17
Q

How did USA help Diem set up his government?

A

They eradicated the election

18
Q

When did USA give Diem a sum of money to set up the Republic of South Vietnam and how much money?

A

$1.6 billion to set up his regime in 1955

19
Q

What was the national front for the liberation of South Vietnam?

A

A communist group set up by the communists in South Vietnam

20
Q

When was the national front for the liberation of South Vietnam set up?

A

December 1960

21
Q

What did Kennedy do against the Viet cong?

A

He sent in military personnel in 1962 to fight the viet cong

22
Q

Who were the Vietcong?

A

A Vietnamese guerrilla group who didn’t like USA in South Vietnam

23
Q

What happened to Diem and Kennedy in 1963?

A

Kennedy was assassinated and Diem was overthrown

24
Q

When and why did USA pass the Tonkin gulf resolution?

A

Passed the Tonkin gulf resolution in 1964 when North Vietnam opened fire on USA ships in the gulf of Tonkin

25
Q

When was USA officially at war with vietnam?

A

8th March 1965

26
Q

What caused USA to be officially at war with Vietnam?

A

3500 marines and combat troops came aboard USA ships

27
Q

Name and explain 3 reasons USA went to war with Vietnam

A
  • ho chi Minh was communist and popular in Vietnam so USA needed to stop him
  • diem’s government was corrupt and people in Vietnam didn’t like USA getting involved
  • the domino theory meant that if Vietnam became communist then it would lead to communism elsewhere and USA needed to contain communism
28
Q

Describe involvement in Vietnam under the 3 presidents: Kennedy, Eisenhower and Johnson

A

Kennedy: gradual involvement using military advisors and money
Eisenhower: some troops but mostly the same as Kennedy
Johnson: sent in many troops in 1964, sent in a total of over 500,000 combine with Nixon

29
Q

What was Johnson’s reaction to the gulf of Tonkin incident?

A

He told the US Air Force to bomb North Vietnam

30
Q

What political group ruled the north of Vietnam?

A

Communist North